WRITING AN

ARTICLE

TITLE

This should attract the reader´s interest and give some idea of what the article is about.

It should be appropriate to the style of the article.

TITLE

1. Read these article titles. Which would make you want to read the article? Which wouldn’t? Give reasons.

a)Chocolateb)My idea of heavenc)Confessions of a chocoholicd)Chocolate: Society´s acceptable addictione)Could you live without it?f)Looking after your health: Chocolate

2. Which titles are appropriate for a light-hearted article? Which for a more serious article? Which for both?

FIRST PARAGRAPH

The opening sentence is especially important. It should:

introduce the topic make a link between the title and the first

paragraph make the reader want to continue reading

The remainder of the first paragraph should develop

the topic and maintain the reader´s interest.

FIRST PARAGRAPH

1. Read through these titles and first paragraphs. One is taken from a magazine article; the others were written by students of English. How effective are they?

a) ChocolateI eat at least two bars of chocolate a day and in my view that´s OK. It´s better for you than cigarettes anyway- well, you don’t get lung cancer from eating chocolate. And you have to have one vice, don´t you?

b) Chocolate: Society´s acceptable addictionMany people find chocolate hard to resist, but is it actually addictive? Research seems to suggest that it is not possible to become physically addicted to chocolate in the same way as to substances as nicotine in tobacco.

c) Could you live without it?Some people say they could but wouldn´t want to. Others say that they´ve tried but that it´s impossible. What are we talking about? Chocolate!

d) My idea of heavenThere is nothing nicer on a cold winter´s evening than relaxing in a nice, hot bath listening to music and eating a bar of chocolate. And it seems that I´m not the only one who puts it top of their list of pleasures.

FIRST PARAGRAPH

2. Which paragraph(s) b,c or d is written in a light-hearted style and which in a more serious style? Pick out some features of each style and list them.

3. These techniques are commonly used to introduce a topic. Match them to the paragraphs a-d. More than one technique may be used in the same paragraph.

a. Ask a questionb. Give a strong opinion.c. Describe a problem which requires an answer.d. Describe an interesting scene or situation.

MIDDLE PARAGRAPHS

The middle paragraphs should continue to develop the topic.

MIDDLE PARAGRAPHS

Match these middle paragraph extracts with their first paragraphs

You’ve heard of “alcoholics” and “workaholics”. Now there are also “chocoholics”. Believe it or not, they even have their own society, “Chocoholics Unanimous”

However, not everyone agrees. Ms Corinne Sweet, a counsellor with the Eating Disorders Association, believes that people can become addicted to chocolate.

Apparently, the time of year doesn’t make any difference. We eat as much in the summer as we do in the winter. Did you know that the average British person eats an incredible 7.3 kilograms a year? The Swiss get through even more!

Some of my friends don’t eat meals, just chocolate and crisps and things like that. I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s bad for your health. You should have a balanced diet.

How effective are these middle paragraphs?

FINAL PARAGRAPHS

This should round off the

article.

FINAL PARAGRAPHS

The final paragraphs should round off the article in some way. Writers often do this by using one or more of the following techniques. Match these techniques with the final paragraphs below.

a) Summarizing the main points of the article.b) Expressing a final personal opinion on the theme of the

article.c) Leaving the reader with something to think about (or a

question to answer)

A. I think it’s OK to eat chocolate, but you should eat a balanced diet, too.

B. It would seem then that, though chocolate does not appear to be physically addictive, there are indications that it may be emotionally and psychologically addictive. It is not referred to as “comfort food” for nothing!

C. Be honest with yourself. Could you give it up?D. Whether eaten or drunk, chocolate just has to be

one of the best things in life.

STYLE

Questions: ordinary or

rhetorical Exclamations Shorter sentences Contractions Beginning sentences

with a conjunction: And Direct reference to the

reader (you) or the writer (I, my)

Informal language (nice/nicer)

Longer, more complex sentences

Avoidance of personal references (Reasearch seems to suggest…)

Joining clauses with a conjunction (but)

More precise vocabulary (substances)

LIGHT-HEARTED SERIOUS